Lake Chad

Historical background.- I. The lacustrine environment and its evolution.- 1. Paleolimnology of an upper quaternary endorheic lake in Chad Basin.- 2. The lacustrine environment.- 3. Physical and chemical characteristics of the waters.- 4. Hydrochemical regulation of the lake.- II. The main types of communities and their evolution during a drought period.- 5. The aquatic vegetation of Lake Chad.- 6. The phytoplankton.- 7. The zooplankton.- 8. The benthic fauna: ecology, biomass and communities.- 9. The fauna associated with the aquatic vegetation.- 10. Fish communities of Lake Chad and associated rivers and flood-plains.- III. The balance of a lacustrine ecosystem during ‘Normal Chad’ and a period of drought.- 11. Phytoplankton production.- 12. Secondary production (zooplankton and benthos).- 13. The exploitation of fish stocks in the Lake Chad region.- IV. Trophic relations.- 14. Trophic relations between the phytoplankton and the zooplankton.- 15. Trophic relations of fishes in Lake Chad.- 16. The impact of birds on the lacustrine ecosystem.- V.- 17. The lacustrine ecosystem during the ‘Normal Chad’ period and the drying phase.- Systematic index.- General index.